WTAM Local News

Kasich to deliver State of State tonight in Medina

(Medina) — Gov. John Kasich is set to deliver the State of the State speech on Monday.

The Republican governor is expected to focus heavily on new education, investment and job training ideas aimed at benefiting Ohio's economy.

Kasich will deliver the speech in the northeastern Ohio home turf of his rival for the governor's face, Democrat Ed FitzGerald. The speech will be delivered at 7 p.m. at the Medina High School Performing Arts Center. Public tickets are gone; they were given away in a lottery.

Education is likely to be a key theme in Monday's speech. The first-term governor has said he believes students need access to vocational options perhaps as early as 7th grade. He's also hinted public schools should be partially "deregulated" to give educators more flexibility to prevent students from lagging.

Kasich has said he'll work to further reduce Ohio's income tax rate, a goal set out in his 2010 campaign.

His Democratic 2014 rival says Kasich's policies have not benefited Ohio's schools or the overall economy. FitzGerald, the Cuyahoga County executive, kicked off a tour across the state on Saturday in Cleveland, also stopping in Medina, the site of Kasich's speech Monday.

Kasich has not drawn any GOP challengers in the race. Democrat Larry Ealy also is seeking the office, as is Libertarian Charlie Earl.